Characterization of Legionella pneumophila Effector Proteins, LneB and MavA

The crucial virulence factor of accidental human pathogen Legionella pneumophila during the course of Legionnaire disease is the over 300 effector proteins secreted from its Dot/Icm secretion system. Eukaryotic host cells usually elicit an arsenal of immune responses against invading L. pneumophila. Nonetheless, the bacteria unexpectedly subvert these defense mechanisms to survive and proliferate unhindered in the host. Although some effector proteins have been proposed to play a significant role in this host-pathogen interaction, many still need to be characterized. The LneB and MavA proteins are examples of those effectors that need characterization. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the structural and functional characteristics of LneB and MavA proteins using several bioinformatics predictive pipelines and transcriptomics data supplemented experimentally through cell-based and biochemical assays to support the prediction. The LneB protein was predicted to have histone acetylation activity (HAT) based on bioinformatics analysis. To investigate the HAT activity of LneB in vitro, the protein was ectopically expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21 strain and purified using nickel ion chromatography. The HAT activity assay was carried out on the purified LneB protein and on the nuclear extracts from LneB-GFP transfected 293T cells. Transcriptomics analysis shows that the LneB protein differentially induces upregulation of early growth factor and dehydrogenase (DHRS2) compared to the GFP control. There was no significant difference between the in vitro HAT activity of LneB protein and the elution buffer (p-value = 0.1137, t-value = 5.537). In vivo, HAT activity was significantly reduced in cells transfected with LneB protein compared to the GFP control (p-value = 0.0025, t-value = 20.08). The HAT activity is not significantly different at a MOI of 10 or 100 when infected cells (Dot/Icm mutant and wild-type L. pneumophila) are compared to uninfected U937 cells (p-value = 0.8969 and 0.5384, respectively). However, the HAT activity in cells infected with an L. pneumophila Dot/Icm mutant at MOI of 100 was significantly lower than in cells that were not infected (p-value = 0.0236). This result suggests that the effector protein from the wild type plays a significant role in acetylating histone protein in the host. Further investigation is required to understand the HAT activity of LneB and other roles the protein could play in the host. Our bioinformatics analysis suggested that the MavA protein possesses Ras-GEF domains and potentially binds to GTP. The protein is predicted to possess two coiled-coil domains and also interact with GTP, Ras and actin. The transcriptomic data from cells expressing MavA protein showed significant upregulation of sixteen genes, which are involve in steroid hormone metabolic processes, endocytic recycling, cilia movement among others. The sortilin receptor protein was the only repressed gene in the cell when compared to a GFP protein control. Connecting the bioinformatics finding and the review of literature, we suggested that the MavA protein could be involved in the biological process in the cell such as internalization of L. pneumophila, creation of Legionella-containing vacuoles in host cells through endosomal remodeling or cytoskeletal reorganization

Effects of Climate Change on Built Environment in Lagos, Nigeria

Climate change has become one of the most exigent concerns of human race today. The effect of climate changes connected to human activities has become alarming since our ecosystem is not naturally adapting quickly to this phenomenon that depends on natural and human causes. As the key climate change indicators such as increasing temperature and intensity of rainfall are being verified in Nigeria, the consequent impacts of climate change connected to these symptoms are to be expected in Nigeria. With the increasing incidence of climate change related hazards and disasters, considerable damage to buildings and infrastructure is expected. Lagos being one of the largest/fastest growing cities in the world and the foremost manufacturing port city in West African sub region is chosen for this study. Its importance as the economic hub of Nigeria, its coastal position, the peculiarity of building development makes it an ideal State for the study of the impact of global climate change on Nigerian built environment. This research uses statistical methods to analyze rainfall, temperature and structural failure data of Lagos State and postulates their impacts on constructed facilities in Lagos Cosmopolitan urban area. The results confirm the vulnerability of Lagos environment to climate change and the trend of the impacts of flooding on Lagos built environmen

Policy reforms and economic development : an institutional perspective on the Nigerian experience (1986 to 1993)

African economies, including Nigeria continued to perform poorly despite the adoption of economic policy reforms in the 1980s. An explanation for the failure of economic policy reforms was therefore sought from an institutional perspective. Since active state intervention in the economy was the rationale given for the economic crisis of developing countries, the conventional case for an active state which rested on the need to correct for market failure was counterposed with the argument that the economy was best coordinated by market forces given that the state was not benevolent, omniscient or omnipotent. However, the state has played an important role in the transformation of late developers while a state-market dichotomy takes no account of institutional factors. The widespread adoption of economic policy reforms owed more to an ideological shift in the development paradigm than to the debt crisis and there was a great deal of controversy about the theoretical foundations and impact of these reforms contrary to claims of a consensus. An institutionalist political economy which recognises that the market is not the only institution and that economic transformation requires the positive use of political power was proposed. Such an approach takes account of history, politics and the institutional diversity of capitalism. A more nuanced view of state intervention was therefore advocated. The importance of institutional arrangements in the quest for economic transformation underscored the inadequacy of structural adjustment which was hampered by the lack of price and institutional flexibility as well as other institutional constraints. The Nigerian experience of structural adjustment shows that long term growth prospects were not enhanced and that the reforms tended to favour the financial sector over the real sector. The failure of economic policy reforms in Nigeria can be attributed to the continued presence of constraining institutional factors and the absence of a positive use of political power.EconomicsD. Comm. (Economics

Analiza produkcji opartej na odnawialnych źródłach energii w Afryce Zachodniej – studium przypadku Nigerii

The limited supply of fossil fuels, constant rise in the demand of energy and the importance of reducing greenhouse emissions has brought about the adoption of renewable energy sources for generation of electrical power. In this paper, the impact of renewable energy generation in Nigeria is explored. A review of renewable deposits in Nigeria with a focus on Solar, Biomass, Hydropower, Pumped Storage Hydro and Ocean energy is detailed. The impact of renewable energy-based generation is assessed from three different dimensions: Economic Impact, Social Impact and Environmental Impact. In accessing economic impact; the conditions are employment and job creation, gross domestic product (GDP) growth and increase in local research and development. To analyze the social impact; renewable energy education, renewable energy businesses, ministries and institutes, renewable energy projects and investments as well as specific solar and wind projects across Nigeria were considered. Also, environmental issues were discussed. Similarly, policy imperatives for renewable energy generation in Nigeria was provided. This paper would be useful in accessing the successes Nigeria has experienced so far in the area of sustainable development and the next steps to achieving universal energy for all in Nigeria in 2030.Ograniczona podaż paliw kopalnych, stały wzrost zapotrzebowania na energię oraz konieczność ograniczenia emisji gazów cieplarnianych pociągnęły za sobą konieczność stosowania odnawialnych źródeł energii do wytwarzania energii elektrycznej. W artykule zbadano wpływ wytwarzania energii odnawialnej w Nigerii. Szczegółowy przegląd zasobów energii odnawialnej w Nigerii, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem energii słonecznej, biomasy, energii wodnej i elektrowni szczytowo-pompowych i energii oceanicznej. Produkcja energii ze źródeł odnawialnych została przeanalizowana w trzech różnych wymiarach: wpływ na gospodarkę, wpływ na społeczeństwo i wpływ na środowisko. W aspekcie wpływu na gospodarkę wzięto pod uwagę: zatrudnienie i tworzenie miejsc pracy, wzrost produktu krajowego brutto (PKB) oraz wzrost lokalnych badań i rozwój. Analiza wpływu społecznego objęła: edukację w zakresie energii odnawialnej, przedsiębiorstwa, ministerstwa i instytuty zajmujące się energią odnawialną, projekty i inwestycje w zakresie energii odnawialnej, a także konkretne projekty dotyczące energii słonecznej i wiatrowej w całej Nigerii. Omówiono również kwestie środowiskowe. W podobny sposób przedstawiono imperatywy polityczne dotyczące wytwarzania energii odnawialnej w Nigerii. Ten artykuł wskazuje na istotny dla Nigerii cel zrównoważonego rozwoju, jakim jest odnawialna energia dla wszystkich.  Celem jest  osiągnięcie w tym kraju powszechnej odnawialnej energii dla wszystkich w 2030 r

Modeling the Next Decade of Energy Sustainability: A Case of a Developing Country

The development of any country is closely related to its ability to provide access to electricity for productive labor. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have low electrification rates for commercial, industrial and residential consumers. This study focuses on Nigeria, which has one of the largest populations and economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Although Nigeria possesses abundant renewable energy resources that can increase electricity generation, it has suffered a significant setback in electricity generation. However, for Nigeria to become one of the leading industrialized countries by 2030, access to clean, reliable, and sustainable energy sources is vital (Vision 20: 2030). This study assesses the possibility of Nigeria developing and transitioning to the use of various energy sources. Additionally, this study evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation plans and future trends in energy sustainability through multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), considering the technical, social, economic, and environmental dimensions of the sustainability structure. A total of twelve (12) sustainability indexes were taken into consideration; these consist of two (2) technical, three (3) social, three (3) environmental, and four (4) economic indicators. A scenario-based software called Long-range Energy Alternative Plan (LEAP) was used to integrate the analysis criteria and forecast a sustainable energy generation mix for the future. It considered three scenarios, namely: the business as usual scenario (BAU); renewables, natural gas and biomass scenario (RNB); and renewables and coal scenario (REC). It was concluded that the renewables, natural gas, and biomass scenario (RNB) is the best scenario to solve Nigeria’s energy problem based on the aim of the study.publishedVersio

The Influence of Colour and Thickness of Nylon Mulch on Soil Temperature, Moisture, Percent Germination and Some Growth Parameters of Cucumber (cucumis sativus L.) Seedlings

Heat, moisture and oxygen are important factors that has controlled seed germination, thus A 2 ×4 factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the influence of colour and thickness of nylon mulch on soil temperature, moisture, percent germination and selected growth indicators of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings in a completely randomized design (CRD), where the treatments; nylon colour (white and black) and thicknesses (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mm) were replicated three times. The analysis of variance showed that the white nylon thickness had positive significant (P ≤ 0.05) influence on soil temperature, soil moisture, plant height and number of leaves, while black nylon thickness had positive significant (P ≤ 0.05) influence on soil moisture and plant height and a negative significant (P ≤ 0.01) influence on percent germination, it was also discovered that 1.5 mm thickness of the white nylon contributed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) to the parameters measured, therefore, white nylon of 1.5 mm thickness could be recommended as mulch material for cucumber production in a sandy clay soil

Monetary Policy and Bank Credit in Nigeria: A Toda-Yamamoto Approach

 The importance of money in economic life has made policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to accord special recognition to the conduct of monetary policy. This study investigated the relationship that exists between monetary policy instruments and Deposit Money Banks Loans and Advances in Nigeria. An annual time series data covering a period of 36years from 1981-2016 were sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria and used for the study. The relationship between monetary policy and credit creation of Deposit Money Banks was captured by monetary policy variables and structural changes in monetary policy. The study employed Toda and Yamamoto granger non-causality model to examine the relationship existing between Deposit Money Banks loan and advances and monetary policy variables in Nigeria. The findings revealed that structural changes in monetary policy system exerted positive significant impact on loan and advances of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria findings also revealed bidirectional relationship existing between MPR and loan and advances of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. Precisely, MPR proved to be a significant variable which causes Deposit Money Bank loans and advances in Nigeria. The other explanatory variables; broad money supply (LM2),liquidity ratio (LR), inflation rate (IFR) and cash reserve ratio (CRR) does not granger cause loan and advances of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria within the study period. The study concluded that the structural change in monetary policy system  and monetary policy rate have significant impact on loan and advances of deposit money banks in Nigeria .Hence, the study recommended that monetary authority should formulate policies that will stabilize interest rate so as to boost the investors’ confidence

Performance evaluation of the prospects and challenges of effective power generation and distribution in Nigeria

Effective Electric Power Generation and Distribution result in the overall increase in efficiency in an economy. Nigeria generates 4500 MW for a population of 200 million people; hence, more than 50% of the population has no electricity access, and those with access experience power outages. Inasmuch as Nigeria is blessed with a vast amount of renewable energy sources, the country heavily relies on Natural Gas for power Generation. With regards to Power Generation, it is seen that the Power Generated is not evacuated efficiently. The purpose of this study is to access the growth of the Nigerian Power Sector from 1898 till date. This is achieved by evaluating the Power Sector Reforms enacted by different government to analyze their effectiveness. Furthermore, the study reviews strategically research that have discussed the strengths and weakness of the Nigerian Power Sector to be able to suggest hidden opportunities and reveal threats to the attainment of sustainable energy for all in 2030. Some of the Challenges discovered were energy user challenges, financial challenges, and energy losses. Some solutions and opportunities are the use of distributed generation, smart meters and the implemented of a smart grid system. In the long run, the authors propose that viable renewable energy sources in each State of the federation be tapped for Power Generation this would enable each State to the self-reliant and contributors to the Nigerian Power Generation Pool. It is believed that this actions would promote economic, social and technological benefits for the every stakeholder

Artificial Neural Network and Particle Swarm Optimization for Medium Term Electrical Load Forecasting in a Smart Campus

Energy demand has continued to increase rapidly not exempting Covenant University. As the university continues to witness infrastructural expansion and population increase, it has become a necessity for energy consumption to be predicted. Hence, this research work developed a medium-term load forecasting system to solve this problem and ensure an efficient electricity supply from the power system operators of Covenant University. The forecast was carried out on real-time monthly load data collected from the university community power plant between 2015 and 2018, using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. A medium-term load forecast was evaluated based on three different ANN algorithms. The FeedForwardNet, Cascadeforwardnet and Fitnet are tested against three (3) different learning algorithms namely Levenberg Marquardt, Bayesian regularization and BFGS quasi-Newton backpropagation with a particle swarm optimizer. And the network performance was obtained using Normalized Root Mean Square Error (nRMSE %). The result revealed an nRMSE of 0.0634%, a correlation coefficient, r, of 0.9082 and the fastest computation speed of 171.789 seconds. Hence, this study provides a point of reference for other related studies and future energy forecast improvement in the study location